SkyWork Airlines (SX, Berne (BRN)) is looking to set up a second base "in a German-speaking country" in 2014, the airline's CEO, Tomislav Lang, has said. Lang refused to further expound on the statement. SkyWork's plans for a second base mimic that of fellow Swiss operators, Darwin Airline (F7, Lugano Agno (LUG)), who themselves have already made public their plans to base a Saab 2000 in Leipzig/Halle (LEJ) for use on double daily flights to both Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) from September onwards with further unconfirmed plans for a possible first UK base in Cambridge (CBG) due in 2014.

Darwin Airline (F7, Lugano Agno (LUG)) is believed to be setting up its first British base at Cambridge (CBG) in 2014 following the recent promotion by UK tour operator Inghams of inclusive tours on scheduled Darwin Airline services from Cambridge to Milan Malpensa (MXP) and Geneva Cointrin (GVA) next year. Pundits also point to a possible service to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) given the lack of flights to the cities from the area. In addition, it is further likely that, given the recent announcement of flights to Manston Kent International (MSE) by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL, Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)), Cambridge would fit into the Dutch carrier's previously mentioned plans about launching "three more UK destinations" in 2013, of which only Belfast George Best City (BHD) has been announced thus far.

Darwin Airline (F7, Lugano Agno (LUG)) is set to base one of it's Saab 2000s in Leipzig/Halle (LEJ) where it will be used to operate double daily flights to both Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) from September onwards. Speculation is mounting regarding a possible announcement due later this week over a much anticipated tie up between the Swiss operator and Air France-KLM. Darwin Airline currently has deals with CSA Czech Airlines (OK, Prague Vaclav Havel Ruzyne (PRG)) and Alitalia (AZ, Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International (FCO)) in which it provides a feeder service under its own flight numbers albeit under a codeshare with the Skyteam carriers. In other related news, flights from Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International (FCO) to Ancona Falconara (AOI), currently operated by Alitalia will cease by May 30 following which Darwin Airline will start four times daily Saab 2000 service on the route with Alitalia codesharing on the flights.

Darwin Airline (F7, Lugano Agno (LUG)) Chief Commercial Officer Christian Schneider has told Austrian Aviation Net that the Swiss regional carrier would be planning to add two additional Saab 2000s later this year to increase its fleet to nine of the turboprops. Darwin plans to announce two new regional bases in Germany and the UK shortly as well. To support its expansion plans, Darwin will also wet-lease ex-EuroLOT (K2, Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin (WAW)) ATR72-200 (c/n 272) from Avanti Air (ATV, Siegen Siegerland (SGE)) to replace the ATR72-200 it currently wet-leases from DOT - Danu oro transportas (R6, Vilnius International (VNO)) for flights from Sicily to Lampedusa (LMP) and Pantelleria (PNL).

Darwin Airline (F7, Lugano Agno (LUG)) has been confirmed as the only remaining candidate in the tender issued by the semi-autonomous Italian province of Alto Adige (also known as South Tyrol) for flights between Bolzano (BZO) and Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International (FCO) set to run from 30 June 2013 to 29 June 2016, following the withdrawal of Air Alps (A6, Innsbruck Kranebitten (INN)) late last year. Authorities have complained that since December 1, the province has not had any direct flights to the Italian capital and cannot wait for 30 June for operations to start. As a result, should the Swiss operator be awarded the contract, it is hoped that a possible interim clause (i.e from April 28 to June 29) will be organized, though Darwin has stated that it would have to consider the profitability of such a short contract. Subsidized by Alto Adige to the tune of EUR 100'000 per month, the winner of the contract will have to guarantee that fares are "attractive."